Stubbins pleased with flash of Steele
By CRAIG KERRY
July 23, 2014, 10 p.m.
NEW attacking weapon Jonny Steele and the Newcastle Jets’ young talent on both sides impressed as the A-League team opened their pre-season trials with an intra-club match at Weston last night.
The senior Jets defeated their youth team 3-1 but it was under-20 talent that scored all four goals.
Former Western Sydney Wanderer Josh Barresi scored twice for the seniors in the first half, pouncing on a poor pass in defence in the 10th minute and tapping in a rebound off goalkeeper John Solari in the 33rd. Mitch Oxborrow made it 3-0 in the 38th minute of the 70-minute match after meeting a cross from fellow youth league player Brandon Lundy.
The Jets’ second team hit back inside a minute when Luke Willard made a similar run into the box and scored off a Nick Cowburn cross.
The trial was the first Jets game under new coach Phil Stubbins, who was pleased with the intense yet injury-free contest.
‘‘It was a really good hit-out for both teams and I think we’re going to see more of it,’’ Stubbins said. ‘‘It was a really good test. I think the 70 minutes was a good blow-out for us. There’s lots off things to work on.
‘‘To witness the introduction of playing three at the back, I think we can work on and build from. It was good.’’
Former Northern Ireland international Steele played the second half and was the main attraction, showing glimpses of his speed and skill down the left touch line.
‘‘He showed some flashes,’’ Stubbins said of Steele, who arrived in Newcastle only last weekend. ‘‘There’s a long way to go in terms of communication back and forth and what we actually want from him, but there’s some good performances there.
‘‘Mitch Oxborrow and Josh Barresi got the goals, two of the young ones, so that was good as well. All in all, I’d say it was a very good night.’’
Stubbins said Cowburn was ‘‘very good’’ in a impressive effort from the youth team.Joel Griffiths, Taylor Regan, Ben Kantarovski and Oxborrow played the entire match for the senior team.
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/24...steele/?cs=306